New arrival Brad Hodge led from the front, scoring a half-century as his team Barisal Burners beat Khulna Royal Bengals by eight wickets in the Bangladesh Premier League on Sunday. It was the first win for Barisal after they were trounced by Sylhet in the first game on the opening day, while Khulna lurched to their second defeat in as many games.

The Barisal captain struck 53 off 40 balls with five fours and a six, as he and Phil Mustard began their chase of 143 with a 78-run opening stand. Hodge opened up with a straight six and a boundary off Farhad Reza in the third over.

The loss of Mustard hardly bothered Hodge, who continued to dominate the largely inexperienced Khulna bowlers, including Afghanistan's left-arm fast bowler Shapoor Zadran. Hodge was also severe on Sanjamul Islam in the seventh over, hitting the left-arm spinner for two boundaries and a six. By the time Islam dismissed Hodge in the 13th over, Barisal had their chase under control.

Another new player for Barisal, Englishman Joe Denly, also contributed, putting on an unbroken 45-run, third-wicket stand with Azhar Mahmood.

Choosing to bat first, Khulna once again felt the absence of their Pakistan players, as they mustered a below-par score on a batting track. Captain Shahriar Nafees and Riki Wessels consolidated the innings with a stand of 58, after the loss of a couple of early wickets including that of opener Nazimuddin, who edged a cut off the first ball of the mach.

Nafees started slowly before launching into Nazmul Islam's left-arm spin in the tenth over, hitting him for four fours. Wessels, too, had his moment, hitting English pacer Kabir Ali for two sixes in the 12th over, before he was eventually dismissed for 48.

Barisal's bowlers, especially Alok Kapali and Elias Sunny, kept the opposition in check during the final overs with regular wickets.

Fidel Edwards has already joined Rangpur as far as i know. I personally think Rangpur is a very stable team. If they could get one more pacer to support Fidel, and replace Sharif and Tapash, they have the potential to play at a semis for sure! I think it's going to be Dhaka, Rajshahi, Shylet, Rangpur facing each other in the semis. These teams has pretty much similar strengths and potentials. I think only Khulna has suffered the most due to this pakistani player crisis. They should be more careful next time, and diversify their risk by choosing players from different origins. ie. Dhaka.

dummy4fb
on January 21, 2013, 13:51 GMT

Hope top WI players will come soon as their T20 is finishd now.Top Players like Tino Best, Fidel Edwards, Sunil Naraine, Dwne Bravo many more is coming..looking forward to see Simon Catich and some more players to come soon when big bash is finished.Top Fast bowlers like Saun Tait, Brett Lee can be a great edition as BD young players can learn a lot playing along them. also aspect some more quality players from Sri Lanka and Australia as their one day series will finish soon.

BPL is not missing Pak/indian and WI star players. Because Ireland,Afghan.Zim players proving as they are too good for BPL.

CrICkeeet
on January 20, 2013, 16:09 GMT

Duronto's matches r looking interesting........

dummy4fb
on January 20, 2013, 15:31 GMT

Best match till date...good batting by chigumbura..want to see more top class pace bowlers and batsman around the world. Hope RR and KR will bring top quality foreigners soon...

Lenin.Noman
on January 20, 2013, 15:19 GMT

Congratulation Barishal. Hodge welcome to bpl.

GreenQuest
on January 20, 2013, 14:14 GMT

Three cheers for Barisal Burners! Hope they will regroup soon with the new players and will back to business soon

dummy4fb
on January 20, 2013, 13:49 GMT

can they chase? did not see any successful chase..is it problem for Dhaka wicket..it is lots of excitement to see chasing big scores..hope teams will start to chase successfully and win

visionbangladesh1
on January 21, 2013, 23:21 GMT

Fidel Edwards has already joined Rangpur as far as i know. I personally think Rangpur is a very stable team. If they could get one more pacer to support Fidel, and replace Sharif and Tapash, they have the potential to play at a semis for sure! I think it's going to be Dhaka, Rajshahi, Shylet, Rangpur facing each other in the semis. These teams has pretty much similar strengths and potentials. I think only Khulna has suffered the most due to this pakistani player crisis. They should be more careful next time, and diversify their risk by choosing players from different origins. ie. Dhaka.

dummy4fb
on January 21, 2013, 13:51 GMT

Hope top WI players will come soon as their T20 is finishd now.Top Players like Tino Best, Fidel Edwards, Sunil Naraine, Dwne Bravo many more is coming..looking forward to see Simon Catich and some more players to come soon when big bash is finished.Top Fast bowlers like Saun Tait, Brett Lee can be a great edition as BD young players can learn a lot playing along them. also aspect some more quality players from Sri Lanka and Australia as their one day series will finish soon.

BPL is not missing Pak/indian and WI star players. Because Ireland,Afghan.Zim players proving as they are too good for BPL.

CrICkeeet
on January 20, 2013, 16:09 GMT

Duronto's matches r looking interesting........

dummy4fb
on January 20, 2013, 15:31 GMT

Best match till date...good batting by chigumbura..want to see more top class pace bowlers and batsman around the world. Hope RR and KR will bring top quality foreigners soon...

Lenin.Noman
on January 20, 2013, 15:19 GMT

Congratulation Barishal. Hodge welcome to bpl.

GreenQuest
on January 20, 2013, 14:14 GMT

Three cheers for Barisal Burners! Hope they will regroup soon with the new players and will back to business soon

dummy4fb
on January 20, 2013, 13:49 GMT

can they chase? did not see any successful chase..is it problem for Dhaka wicket..it is lots of excitement to see chasing big scores..hope teams will start to chase successfully and win

miltonabdh
on January 20, 2013, 13:38 GMT

Mr. Isam, I like your reports. You have added a new dimension to ESPNcricinfo news by regularly bringing in Banglaeesh updates. But I am sure many Bangladeshis will agree with me that you are moaning the absence of Pakistani cricketers for no reason. You have attributed the below par performance of Khulna to the absence of Pakistani players; but you have not said Barisal won today without any Pakistani players or Dhaka is scoring so heavily and winning without Pakistani players. Khulna misses quality players, not Pakistani players.

MWaqqar
on January 20, 2013, 12:45 GMT

In Pak Geo Super channel was supposed to show BPL but now they are not telecasting BPL. However thanks to our cable operator and channel 9 we are now seeing BPL. BPL go strong.

No featured comments at the moment.

MWaqqar
on January 20, 2013, 12:45 GMT

In Pak Geo Super channel was supposed to show BPL but now they are not telecasting BPL. However thanks to our cable operator and channel 9 we are now seeing BPL. BPL go strong.

miltonabdh
on January 20, 2013, 13:38 GMT

Mr. Isam, I like your reports. You have added a new dimension to ESPNcricinfo news by regularly bringing in Banglaeesh updates. But I am sure many Bangladeshis will agree with me that you are moaning the absence of Pakistani cricketers for no reason. You have attributed the below par performance of Khulna to the absence of Pakistani players; but you have not said Barisal won today without any Pakistani players or Dhaka is scoring so heavily and winning without Pakistani players. Khulna misses quality players, not Pakistani players.

dummy4fb
on January 20, 2013, 13:49 GMT

can they chase? did not see any successful chase..is it problem for Dhaka wicket..it is lots of excitement to see chasing big scores..hope teams will start to chase successfully and win

GreenQuest
on January 20, 2013, 14:14 GMT

Three cheers for Barisal Burners! Hope they will regroup soon with the new players and will back to business soon

Lenin.Noman
on January 20, 2013, 15:19 GMT

Congratulation Barishal. Hodge welcome to bpl.

dummy4fb
on January 20, 2013, 15:31 GMT

Best match till date...good batting by chigumbura..want to see more top class pace bowlers and batsman around the world. Hope RR and KR will bring top quality foreigners soon...

CrICkeeet
on January 20, 2013, 16:09 GMT

Duronto's matches r looking interesting........

Albert_cambell
on January 20, 2013, 16:35 GMT

BPL is not missing Pak/indian and WI star players. Because Ireland,Afghan.Zim players proving as they are too good for BPL.